Vera (Widows of Blessings Valley Book 2)

by Maxine Douglas

  Shaking the images and shameful thoughts from his head, he pushed away from the table and walked out the door. He had things to get done and sitting around mooning over Vera wouldn’t accomplish a darn thing. Except make him feel riddled with guilt.

  “First stop, the Grand,” Wally mumbled, heading toward the west end of Blessings Valley. He slowed his step only long enough for a polite nod and a quick “good day” as he met several people along the way.

  Wally drew in a breath as he jogged up the steps and through the doors of the Grand Hotel.

  “Good day, Mr. Daniels,” the young man behind the front desk greeted cheerfully, if not a little guarded. “How can I help you today?”

  “Stewart, is it?” Wally asked, standing in front of the highly polished desk.

  “Yes, sir.” Stewart smiled, puffing out his chest with pride.

  “I am expecting some clients on the next train,” Wally began, leaning over the desk slightly. “Can you tell me when Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin might arrive? I am quite certain they’ve made reservations to stay here.”

  “Baldwin, you say,” Stewart recited, his finger gliding down the page of reservations. “Are they any relation to Mrs. Baldwin by chance?”

  “You do have them then?” Wally inquired, ignoring the desk clerk’s prying question. No need to start rumors until all was settled between Vera and his parents.

  “Yes, sir. Due to arrive day after tomorrow.”

  “Thank you.” Wally turned away, paused a moment then looked back over his shoulder. “Is Mrs. Hamilton in by chance?”

  “Yes sir, I believe she is in the dress shop.”

  “Thank you. You’ve been a great help, Stewart.” Wally walked through the door of the dress shop from the lobby. The bell overhead announced his presence.

  “Hello, may I help you?” Mrs. Hamilton came out from the back room, the smile on her face quickly fading to a scowl. “Oh, it’s you, Mr. Daniels. What do you want to ask me about this time? I thought I had been clear the last time you were here. I am the wrong person to ask about Thomas Baldwin.”

  “Yes, ma’am, you did. So much so that I found the person I was looking for and quite by accident,” Wally affirmed, swiping his hat from his head. “I wanted to talk with you about Vera Baldwin.” He paused for a moment, swallowing hard. “Her husband and—my brother, Thomas.”

  “Your brother! I think not!” Mrs. Hamilton exclaimed, her face paling and eyes wide with surprise and suspicion. “I’m not sure what kind of game you’re playing here, Mr. Daniels. Thomas didn’t have a family, other than Vera. I’m sure you must know that by now. If you’ve actually spoken with her, that is.”

  “The truth of the matter is—”

  “That you are to leave my fiancée alone, Mr. Daniels.” Mr. Raines’s voice rumbled behind him, full of warning and promise. “And if you are as smart as you think you are, leaving town on the next train might be in your best interest.”

  “I understand, sir. May we all go somewhere a bit more private? I’d like to explain it all to you,” Wally asked, keeping his eyes on Mrs. Hamilton. He knew she’d be directing the situation, and he wasn’t going to let her out of his sight for a moment. As soon as her face softened, he knew they’d at least sit down and listen to what he had to say.

  “I think we should at least hear Mr. Daniels out, Auggie,” Mrs. Hamilton said, her gaze fixed on her betrothed. “Let’s go into the backroom. I just had a pot of coffee and some cakes brought in. Hang the closed sign in the door, would you please, Auggie.”

  Wally followed Mrs. Hamilton into the backroom, where a table for three was already set up. Mr. Raines was all but nipping at his heels making sure his fiancée was safe.

  Once they were all seated and coffee poured, Wally sucked in a breath to steady his nerves. This shouldn’t be so hard, so why was he finding it to be just that?

  “First of all, my name isn’t Jack Daniels. It’s Wallace Baldwin.”

  “Vera, I don’t know what you are so upset about.” Willa poured tea, giving Vera a look she couldn’t quite define.

  What had she done to warrant a look of, of—Oh! She had every right to be upset.

  She’d been lied to her entire married life by the man she’d trusted—and loved. And he wasn’t here to give his side of the story.

  She could only trust the word of another man.

  She had no choice but to trust Wally Baldwin. A man who had been telling lies since he arrived in Blessings Valley. And he was Thomas’s brother!? Why not just say so when he’d arrived on that first day?

  Were his reasons good enough?

  No! He should have told her the truth of who he was.

  “He’s Thomas’s brother for one.” Vera huffed, crossing her arms in front of her. “On top of that, he lied about who he really was!”

  “He had a job to do.” Willa defended the scoundrel much to Vera’s mixed feelings of being appalled and complete understanding for the deception.

  So, he had a job to do. Does that include deceiving people? Evidently, it does, and I will find it hard to forgive him for invading my dreams. If ever.

  “Nonetheless, I’m upset for him not being honest with me from the start.” Vera’s objection sounded more like a spoiled little girl instead of the grown woman she’d become. “Instead of—”

  “Accepting your invitation last night to supper?” Willa smiled, looking over the brim of the teacup at her.

  “How did you—” Vera pinched back the smile lingering at the corners of her mouth. “Of course, he told you, didn’t he?”

  “About dinner? Yes,” Willa answered, sitting back in her chair. “About who he is? He didn’t have to. And if you’d been paying more attention, you would have at the very least suspected he was a relation the way he resembles a younger version of Thomas.”

  “I have been a bit preoccupied, Willa,” Vera snapped, guilt washing over her immediately. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

  “What else is troubling you?” Concerned itched its way across her face, and Vera’s resolve softened.

  “I had a dream last night,” Vera confessed, releasing the breath she’d been holding inside. “In it, Thomas’s face faded away to Wally’s. And I didn’t stop at the cemetery this morning as I always do. Ever since Wally Baldwin came to Blessings Valley, I’ve felt unsettled, and I don’t know why.”

  “Oh, is that all?” Willa laughed.

  “Is that all?! That’s quite enough, don’t you think?” Vera sniffed, struggling to stop the flow of tears threatening to reveal the guilt residing in her at bay.

  “I think your heart is telling you it’s time to move on with your life.” Willa’s gentle and understanding words swept warmly over Vera. How could she be angry at her friend for caring about her?

  “And you’ve been seeing a bit of Wally, so it doesn’t surprise me he crept into your dreams. I have always found that any defensive walls we have built around us seem to crash down once we go to sleep. Gives the mind time to process things in its own way.”

  “I’m afraid, Willa,” Vera confessed.

  “Of what?”

  “Of falling in love with the Baldwins, only to be rejected.” Vera continued with the confession, her heart beating rapidly. “If I ever meet them, what if they want nothing to do with me or my baby? What if they don’t want their own grandchild? What if they blame me for Thomas’s death?”

  “Life is full of what-ifs, Vera. You’ll never know unless you take the steps to find out,” Willa coaxed gently. “If they are anything like Wally, even Thomas, for that matter, then you have nothing to fear.”

  “He told me about the Baldwin family Christmases. It made me realize how much I miss having a family,” Vera said, feeling the anxiety dissipate. “Oh! Not that you, Mollie, and the others aren’t family. It’s just that—”

  “I understand, Vera,” Willa said knowingly. “What are you going to do?”

  “One day, maybe I’ll be able to meet them. But seems unlikely since Wally
will be leaving now that he has found what he came for,” Vera was surprised at the way her heart fell as she voices those words. Would Wally really leave her alone to have the baby? Why should he stay? He didn’t know her at all. Only that she was his brother’s widow.

  “Thank you for the tea, Willa.” Vera stood and reached for the basket of soiled linens. “And your friendship.”

  “So, what do you intend to do, Mr. Baldwin?” Mrs. Hamilton asked, her gaze pinning him against an imaginary wall.

  She had a good point. Just what were his intentions? He hadn’t thought much pass his parents arriving in Blessings Valley. He had to come up with something. An alternative plan to winging it.

  “My parents are due to arrive on the next train,” Wally said, tapping a finger on the table. “As you know, they are staying here at the Grand. My thoughts are to talk to them about Thomas before introducing them to Vera.”

  “Does Vera know they are coming?” Mrs. Hamilton asked, her face scrunched with concern.

  If Vera knew how lucky she was to have people in Blessings Valley who truly cared for her, she might not feel so worried and alone. He knew once his mother set eyes on Vera, she’d want her to go back with them, insisting she was family.

  “She knows about my parents, but not that they are on their way.” Wally looked at some imaginary image on the wall for a moment before returning his gaze to Mrs. Hamilton. “I have yet to figure out how to tell them about each other. I think Vera was in shock to find out that Thomas had a family and didn’t tell her about us.”

  “Yes, I can imagine she is quite beside herself,” Mr. Raines hissed. “That still doesn’t answer Elizabeth’s question, now does it?”

  “No, it doesn’t,” Wally confessed, wishing he could have held Vera in his arms, protecting her as the news sunk in. “I do have a few thoughts on how to do this, but I’m not sure how it will all work out. First, I am going to tell my parents where Thomas is buried. I’m sure my mother will want to visit his grave, pay her respects, and grieve for her eldest son all over again.

  “Then I am hoping to introduce them to Vera over dinner, here if possible. A quiet spot away from prying eyes. I feel we will need some time to answer questions as well as ask them.”

  Elizabeth smiled for the first time since Wally had met her. She was a rather handsome woman, and he could see why Mr. Raines was protective of her. The same way he felt instantly protective of Vera the moment he first saw her. He’d commit murder if anyone hurt her—ever. And he was just starting to get to know her. If he felt this way now, how would he feel the longer he was around her?

  “There is a nice spot in the garden under the gazebo that is private. And Auggie will make sure no one bothers you, won’t you, dear?” Elizabeth glanced at Auggie with a sweet smile on her face and authority in her voice.

  If Vera ever looked at me that way, I’d melt and do whatever she asked. Wally imagined Vera saying she needed this or that and him tripping over himself to get it for her.

  “Of course, my dear.” Auggie smiled, reaching over for her hand. “I’ll make sure they have as much privacy as needed.”

  “And I’ll speak with Mrs. Hall about something simple for refreshments and a light lunch upon their arrival,” Elizabeth offered. “What do you think, Mr. Baldwin? Will that be helpful?”

  “You are very kind, Mrs. Hamilton,” Wally said, rising to go. “I believe I have taken up too much of your time today.

  “Please don’t tell Vera of our conversation. I want to be the one to tell her mother and father are coming on the next train.”

  “Our secret, Mr. Baldwin,” Elizabeth rose and walked with him to the front of the dress shop.

  “I’ll see you both soon then.” Wally nodded, walking out through the door to the bell echoing what was in his heart—joy.

  14

  A few days had passed, and Vera wasn’t any closer to easing her mind about Thomas’s family nor the fact that he never mentioned them to her. Surely, the hurt caused that day had started to mend his broken heart over the years. She couldn’t imagine what she would do if her child walked away from her forever. Wishing Thomas had told her about his family would do no good now. That pain would forever be etched upon his soul.

  And what was she going to do about Wally and the way he came uninvited into her dreams? She hadn’t seen him for several days, and yet her heart felt sad finding she missed seeing him here and there about in Blessings Valley.

  What could he be doing? Had he decided it best to stay far from her since he’d found what he was looking for?

  No, she wouldn’t accept that at all. Even Willa had mentioned she hadn’t seen much of him over the past few days. Paperwork and reports she’d told Vera.

  Yes, that made perfect sense if she really thought about it. And she did—day and night.

  Wally Baldwin had gotten under her skin. And she felt guilty that today was the first in several that she’d visit Thomas’s grave. Was Wally’s presence the reason she stayed away from the cemetery?

  This she couldn’t blame on Wally. No, she had only herself to blame and no one else.

  Walking through the doors of the church, Vera sat in a pew midway down the aisle. Bowing her head, she folded her hands and asked for God’s forgiveness.

  Forgiveness for not attending to her late-husband’s grave these past days.

  Forgiveness for the dreams of Wally.

  Forgiveness for wanting a family who most certainly wouldn’t want her.

  “Amen,” she whispered, opening her eyes and breathing in slowly.

  “It’s been a few weeks since you came to church,” Fannie whispered from the pew behind Vera.

  “How long have you been here, Fannie?” Vera turned around, smiling at her sister widow. Fannie had been one of the widows who had turned to God instead of away from Him after the accident.

  “Only for a few moments.” Fannie leaned forward, touching Vera’s shoulder. “Did you find the peace you seek?”

  Vera wasn’t sure what to say. Had she found it or was the guilt still lurking inside her?

  “Some, I think,” she finally answered. “I haven’t been to see Thomas in several days. It was weighing heavily on my mind.”

  Fannie nodded, sitting back in the pew. “Physically, Thomas is no longer here on Earth. He is in Heaven, doing God’s work. All that is under that dirt is a box with his bones covered by clothes he was buried in. The husband you knew and love is no longer here, Vera.”

  Vera’s instinct was to lash out at Fannie, but she quickly realized her friend was right. It didn’t matter that she didn’t go every day to talk to Thomas except for her own peace of mind. His spirit would always be with her, even if he was now at God’s side.

  “I guess you are right, Fannie,” Vera said, her brow furrowing. “But you are here every day. Don’t you talk to your husband daily?”

  “I’m sure it may seem that way, but no. I talk to God every day,” Fannie answered quietly. “I do my best to keep our church clean and free of animals. I am here in case someone needs a shoulder. Someone to help them find a sense of peace whenever possible.

  “It makes me feel closer to God, and to Warren, if truth be told. So, you see, you are not alone, Vera. I, too, am still grieving the loss we all sustained this past spring. I have found peace and hope one day to find love again. Elizabeth has and so shall the rest of us, if it is God’s will.”

  Vera ran her hand over her growing belly. “Oh, I don’t think there is anyone who is willing to take on a pregnant widow.”

  “Isn’t there?” Fannie asked as she stood, leaving Vera to her own thoughts again.

  Was Fannie right? Could there be another man out in the world who could love her and a child who wasn’t his? She didn’t think so even as Wally’s face flitted though her mind.

  The day Wally both dreaded and looked forward to had arrived. His parents were arriving on the morning train. He couldn’t wait for them to learn about Vera and the baby. And hated his parent
s’ grief may resurface at the cemetery.

  Pacing the floor of the train station, he looked at his pocket watch again, the time only a five-minute difference than the last time he’d checked.

  “Why is it taking so long?” he muttered, stepping onto the station platform and staring down the tracks.

  No train in sight.

  No rumbling sound.

  No whistle blowing.

  No parents.

  Now what? He could go back to the boardinghouse, but why? To do what? Go over his notes again? Wally knew them by heart, so there was no need to go over what he already knew.

  He also knew Vera wasn’t in town today. He’d been keeping an eye on her from afar, not wanting to spook her. After he’d told her about his family, he decided to keep his distance by staying in the shadows, no matter how much he longed to be at her side. If he hadn’t been afraid he’d spill his guts on how he felt, maybe they would have spent the past few days together.

  He soon realized how much he missed Vera. He wanted to let her know she’d never be alone. If his parents rejected her, which was highly unlikely, he’d already decided to stay on in Blessings Valley. Vera would need someone to look after her and the baby, and he would volunteer—no, insist—on being that person for the rest of her life if she’d allow him.

  Staying with her was more than duty. He had a growing fondness for his brother’s widow and he saw nothing wrong with it. He’d give Vera and the baby a loving and caring home for the rest of his life.

  And if she rejected him? He’d always be nearby, ready to take care of them. He could sign on as a deputy once the new sheriff arrived. And when Wally had first arrived in Blessings Valley, Max Hayden had approached him on the street about coming on as security at the Heartbreak Saloon.

  A rumbling along the tracks drew his thoughts to the arriving train. A shrill whistle announced it was about to pull into the station.